Returning device for phonographs.



No. 805,417. PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905. S. FARB.

RETURNING DEVICE FOR PHONOGRAPHS. APPLICATION FILED DEG. 31, 1904 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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ATTORN Y PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905. S. FARB. RETURNING DEVICE FOR PHONOGRAPHS.

APPLICATION TILED DBO. 31, 1904 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

2 INVENTOR.

W m m @w PATENT OFFICE. SOLOMON FARE, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, OF ONE-FOURTH TO MARCUS L. MENDELSSOHN,

OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, AND ONE-HALF TO EDISONIA COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

RETURNING DEVICE FOR PHONOGRAPHS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1905.

Application filed December 31, 1904. Serial No. 239,184.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SOLOMON FARB, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful 1mprovements in Returning Devices for Phonographs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled IO in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

5 This invention has reference to improvements in phonographs and similar sound-reproducing machines; and the present invention has for its principal object to provide with machines of such character a returning device or means for automatically raising the soundreproducer and its stylus from its operative contact with the record at the end of the record and then returning the said sound-reproducer and its stylus and the usual engaging 5 device or nut of the machine to their normal initial or starting positions without stopping or interfering with the operating mechanism of the phonograph or similar apparatus to again causethe sound-reproducer and its stylus 3 to be once more brought in its operative engagement with the beginning or forward end of the record.

The said invention consists, primarily, in the novel returning device or means herein- 3 5 after more particularly specified; and, furthermore, this invention consists in the novel arrangements and combinations of devices and parts, as well as in the details of the construction of the same, all of which will be fully described in the following specification and then finally embodied in the clauses ofthe claim, which are appended to and which form an essential part of this specification.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan or top view of a phonograph and a top or plan view of the automatic returning device embodying the principles of my present invention, the sound-reproducer 5 and its stylus being shown in their normal initial positions about to be moved into operative contact with the record. Fig. 2 is afront view of the upper framework of the phonograph, the operating shaft or spindle and a record thereon, and the sound-reproducer, said view also showing in front elevation the upper portion of the usual casing upon which the said parts of the phonograph are placed, and a side view of the said automatic returning device, with a yielding post of the said returning device connected with the oscillating frame of the sound-reproducer shown in its normal initial or starting position. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the said parts, showing the said sound-reproducer and the said yielding 5 post in their forwardly-traveling relation with the record during contact or engagement of the stylus with the reproducing-surface of the record. Fig. i is a front view of portions of some of the parts represented in said Figs. 1, 7 2, and 3 and a front view of the said soundreproducer and automatic returning device, showing the relative positions of the soundreproducer and the said yielding post of the returning device at the end of the record; and Fig. 5 is a similar view of the same parts, showing the sound-reproducer in its raised position from the surface of the record and the relative arrangement of the parts of the yielding post of the returning device While returning to their normal initial or starting positions at the beginning or forward end of the record. Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 6 6 in said Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrow w, and Fig. 7 is a similar 5 section taken on line 7 7 in said Fig. 5 looking in the direction of the arrow y.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the said above-described views to indicate corresponding parts. 0

Referring now to the said several figures, the reference character 1 indicates any usual form and construction of phonograph or similar apparatus, comprising the usual box or casing 2, in which the motor or driving mechanism is arranged and upon which is supported and secured, by means of the usual screws 4, the phonograph-base 3. Suitably secured upon the said base or plate 3, by means of the usual lugs 5 and screws 6, is the framework 7 of the phonograph, provided with the suitably-disposed bearings 8 and 9 and 10 and 11. Between the said bearings 8 and 9 is rotatively arranged the main shaft or spindle 12, which is provided upon a portion thereof with an enlarged cylindrical member 13, upon which the usual record 14 is arranged and held in the well-known manner. The remaining portion of the said main shaft or spindle is provided with a screw-thread 15, as shown.

Suitably secured between the bearings 10 and 11 is a back rod or guide 16, upon which is pivotally and slidab'ly arranged in the usual manner the part 18 of the oscillating frame 17, to which is affixed the usual sound-reproducer 19. The longitudinal sliding movement of the said oscillating frame 17 and its parts 18 in the forward direction, which causes the operative engagement of the stylus of the sound -reproducer with the' surface of the record 14, is caused by the engagement of the usual screw-threaded contacting device or nut 20 with the screw-thread of the main shaft or spindle 12, said device or nut being connected with the part 18 of the -oscillat ing frame 17 by means of the usual arm or bar 21, all of which is clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The said sound-reproducer 19 is secured in the usual ringshaped holding part or member 22 of the oscillating frame 17 and the said part or member 22 is provided with the usual forwardlyprojecting lug or extension 23.

The above-described features and parts are all old and well known and form part of the usual phonograph construction.

Coming now to the automatic returning device or means embodying the principles of my present invention, the same comprises in general two main parts-namely, a trackplate and a yielding postall constructed and arranged substantially in the manner to be presently described. The said track-plate consists, essentially, of a raised portion 24 of approximately the same or somewhat greater length than that of the cylindrical member 13, the said portion 24 being connected at its one end by means of an ofiset 25 with an end member or portion 26 and at its other end by means of an inclined part 27 with another end member or portion 28, substantially as illustrated in the several figures of the drawings. The said raised portion 2 1 of the trackplate is provided at a suitable point near the offset 25 with a suitably-shaped depression 29, preferably of the configuration shown in Figs. 2 to 5, inclusive. The said track-plate, as will be clearly evident, may be struck up from sheet metal, or it may be cast, or the several parts thereof may be made in separate pieces and then suitably secured together. That the track-plate may be suitably secured in its fixed position upon the said base or plate 3 the end portion or member 26 is provided with a suitable slot 30, and the other end portion or member 28 is provided with a suitable slot 31, which slots 30 and 31 are arranged, respectively, about the shanks of one of the screws 4: and a screw 6, in the manner shown more particularly in Fig. 1 of the drawings, when said screws have been slightly loosened and then tightened up again to secure said track-plate in its fixed position upon the said base or plate 3. Thus it will be clearly seen that the track-plate can be securely affixed in its operative position upon the said base or plate 3 without the employment of additional fastening devices or without the necessity of drilling additional screw-holes in the said base or plate 3. It will be understood, however, that the said track-plate may be otherwise constructed and may be secured in place by fas tening means other than those herein shown.

The yielding post of the returning device comprises two arms or members 32 and 33, which are suitably connected in the manner of a hinge by means of a pin 34:. The lower arm 32 is formed with a tongue 35, which extends into the lower and slotted end portion of the upper arm 33, substantially as illustrated, the said upper arm 33 having a sharp and downwardly-extending inclined edge 36, against which are forced correspondinglyformed edges 37 upon the lower arm 32 under certain conditions, as will hereinafter appear, by the action of a spring 38. The said spring 38 is suitably secured at its lower end upon the side of the lower arm 32 and has its upper end portion 39 in' bearing contact with the side of the upper arm 33. In this manner the two arms 32 and 33 are suitably connected so that they will yield in one direction at their hinged connection, in the manner of an elbow, when pressure is applied to the one side, in the present case the left side, of the connected arms, but will form practically a rigid post when the pressure is exerted upon the opposite side of the said connected arms. The upper end portion of the said upper arm 33 is suitably secured, by means of a screw 40 or other fastening means, to the previously-mentioned projection 23 of the oscillating frame 17, and the lower and preferably bifurcated end portion 41 of the said lower arm. 32 has a pin 42, upon which is arranged a suitable roller or wheel 43, adapted to be brought in rolling contact with the upper surfaces of the various parts of the trackplate hereinabove described. Encircling the said back rod, bar, or guide 16, upon that portion thereof between the bearing 11 and the oscillating frame 17, is a coiled spring 44, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings and for the purpose to be presently described.

Having in the above set forth the general arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts, I will now briefly describe the operations of the same.

In their normal initial positions all the devices and parts are in their relatively inactive positions. (Indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.) Now suppose the driving mechanism of the phonograph to have been wound up in the usual manner and a record 14 tov have been slipped upon the cylindrical receiving portion or member 13 of the main shaft or spindle 12. By throwing over the starting-lever 15 from right to left the spin- .dle or shaft 12 begins to revolve, and the sound-reproducer 19 and its stylus are moved from left to right in operative contact with the reproducingsurface of the record 14. The tension of the spring 38 is such that during this forward movement of the oscillating frame 17 in the usual manner and the parts connected with said frame the said spring 38 will yield against the exerted pressure, thereby causing the lever-arm 32 of the yielding post to assume an angular or tilted position, (indicated in Figs. 3 and6 of the drawings,) the roller or wheel 43 first riding up the incline 27 and then rolling along the raised portion 24 of the track-plate until the sound-reproducer 19 has reached the end of the record, when the said wheel or roller 43 will have suddenly passed into the depression 29 of the track-plate, thereby permitting the spring 38 to act and bringing the said lower.

arm 32 once more in straight vertical alinement with the upper arm 33, as clearly represented in Fig. 4 of thedrawings. Immediately the stylus of the sound-reproducer l9 and the feeding or actuating device 20, respectively, are raised by the straightened out members or arms 32 and 33 of the yielding post from their operative engagement with the record 14 and the said screw-thread 15 of the main shaft or spindle 12, as illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawings, and the previouslycompressed spring 4: 1, which is now free to act, and its coils in assuming their normally distended relation to each other automatically force all the movable parts in the direction of the arrow y in Fig. 5 to their normal initial or starting positions (shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings) without having stopped or interfered with the rotary motion of the spindle or shaft 12. As soon as the parts have thus been forced back to their normal initial positions the device 20 is again actively brought into its engagement with the screw 15 of the shaft or spindle 12, because of the yielding post being once more located in front of the incline 27, and the forward movement of the sound-reproducer and contact of its stylus with the record again take place in the manner previously described. In this manner a reciprocatory movement of the parts back and forth can be produced automatically as long as desired and until the power is shut off by throwing the lever 15 back into its former position. (Indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings.)

The tensions of the various springs 38 and 4A are made to suit the existing conditions, as will be clearly evident, and the tension of the spring 38 is such that it will not interfere with the forward movement of the sound-reproducer 19, the arm 32 yielding to the pressure a practically rigid connection of the arm 32 with the arm 33 by engagement of the edge 37 of the one arm with the corresponding edges of the other arm during the return movement of the parts, and thus sufficiently raising the sound-reproducer 19 and its stylus above the surface of the record that the latter will not become damaged by improper contact of the parts.

The simplicity of the construction of the parts of the returning device and the ease and readiness with which said device can be attached in its operative position to existing phonographs and similar apparatus are evidenced from the foregoing description of my invention and will not be further dwelt upon at this time.

I am fully aware that many changes may be madein the arrangements and combinations of the devices and parts, as well as in the details of the construction of the same, without departing from the scope of my present invention. Hence I do not limit my invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the devices and parts as described in the foregoingspecification and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, nor do I confine myself to the exact details of the construction of any of the said parts.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a phonograph, or other similar apparatus, the combination, with the shaft or spindle provided with a record-receiving means, and a forwardly-moving oscillating frame and sound-reproducer, of a returning device arranged and constructed to permit the forward operative engagement of the stylus of the sound-reproducer with a record, but at the end of the record raising said sound-reproducer and its stylus from engagement with the record and automatically returning the movable parts to their normal initial or starting positions, said returning device comprising a pair of connected arms adapted to assume a yielding relation during the forward movement of the sound-reproducer, and a rigid relation during the return movement of said sound-reproducer, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a phonograph, or other similar apparatus, the combination, with the shaft or spindle provided with a record-receiving means, and a forwardly-moving oscillating frame and sound-reproducer, of a returning device arranged and constructed to permit the forward operative engagement of the stylus of the sound-reproducer with a record, but at the end of the record raising said sound-reproducer and its stylus from engagement with the record, and a compression-spring for returning the movable parts to their normal initial or starting positions, said returning device comprising a pair of connected arms exerted, but said spring 38 acting to produce 1 adapted to assume a yielding relation during the forward movement of the sound-reproducer, and a rigid relation during the return movement of said sound-reproducer, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a phonograph, or other similar apparatus, the combination, with the shaft or spindle provided with a record-receiving means, and a forwardly-moving oscillating frame and sound-reproducer, of a returning device arranged and constructed to permit the forward operative engagement of the stylus of the sound-reproducer with a record, but at the end of the record raising said sound-reproducer and its stylus from engagement with the record and automatically returning the movable parts to their normal initial or starting positions, said returning device comprising a pair of pivotally-connected arms, a spring on one of said arms having another portion in yielding contact with the other arm, said arms being adapted to assume a yielding relation during the forward movement of the sound-reproducer, and a rigid relation during the return movement of said sound-reproducer, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In a phonograph, or other similar apparatus, the combination, with a shaft or spindle provided with a record-receiving means, and a forwardly-moving oscillating frame and sound-reproducer, of a returning device arranged and constructed to permit the forward operative engagement of the stylus of the sound-reproducer with a record, but at the end of the record raising said sound-reproducer and its stylus from engagement with the record, and a compression-spring for returning the movable parts to their normal initial or starting positions, said returning device comprising a pair of pivotally-connected arms, a spring on one of said arms having another portion in yielding contact with the other arm, said arms being adapted to assume a yielding relation during the forward movement of the sound-reproducer, and a rigid relation during the return movement of said sound-reproducer, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. A returning device for phonographs and other similar apparatus, comprising, in combination, with the main framework and a forwardly-moving oscillating frame carrying a sound-reproducer and its stylus, a track-plate provided with a raised portion, and a yielding post comprising a pair of hinged arms, one of said arms being secured to said oscillating frame, a roller attached to the lower end of said other arm, said roller being arranged in rolling engagement with said trackplate, said arms being arranged that during the forward movement of the parts the said sound-reproducer and its stylus will be in operative contact with a record, but at the end of the record said arms raising the said soundreproducer and its stylus from the surface of the record, substantially as and for the pur poses set forth.

6. A returning device for phonographs and other similar apparatus comprising, in combination, with the main framework and aforwardly-moving oscillating frame carrying a sound-reproducer and its stylus, a track-plate provided with a raised portion, and a yielding post comprising a pair of hinged arms, one of said arms being secured to said oscillating frame, a roller attached to the lower end of said other arm, said roller being arranged in rolling engagement with said trackplate, said arms being arranged that during the forward movement of the parts the said sound-reproducer and its stylus will be in operative contact with a record, but at the end of the record said arms raising the said soundreprod-ucer and its stylus from the surface of the record, and means for returning the said sound-reproducer and its stylus and said yielding post to their normal initial positions, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. Areturning device for phonographs and other similar apparatus comprising, in combination, with the main framework and a forwardly-moving oscillating frame carrying a sound-reproducer and its stylus, a track-plate provided with a raised portion, and a yielding post comprising a pair of hinged arms, one of said arms being secured to said oscillating frame, aroller attached to the lower end of said other arm, said roller being arranged in rolling engagement with said trackplate, a leaf-spring secured at one end to the lower one of said arms, said spring having its opposite end in engagement with the upper one of said arms, said arms being arranged that during the forward movement of the parts the said sound-reproducer and its stylus will be in operative contact with a record, but at the end of the record said arms raising the said sound-reproducer and its stylus from the surface of the record, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

8. A returning device for phonographs and other similar apparatus, comprising, in com bination, with the main framework and a forwardly-moving oscillating frame carrying a sound-reproducer and its stylus, a trackplate provided with a raised portion, and a yielding post comprising a pair of hinged arms, one of said arms being secured to said oscillating frame, a roller attached to the lower end of said other arm, said roller being arranged in rolling engagement with said track-plate, a leaf-spring secured at one end to the lower one of said arms, said spring having its opposite end in engagement with the upper one of said arms, said arms being arranged that during the forward movement of the parts the said sound-reproducer and its stylus will be in operative contact with a record, but at the end of the record said arms raising the said sound -reproducer and its Stylus from the surfaceof the record, and means for returning the said sound-reproducer and its stylus and said yielding post to their normal initial positions, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

9. Areturning device for phonographs, and other similar apparatus comprising, in combination, with the main framework and a forwardly-moving oscillating frame carrying a sound-reproducer and its stylus, a track-plate consisting, essentially, of a raised portion 24 provided with a depression 29, an offset at one end of said portion 24 and an incline 27 at the other end thereof, end portions connected respectively with said offset and said incline, means in engagement with said end portions for securing said track-plate in position, and a yielding post connected with said oscillating frame, said post having its incline and the raised portion of the trackplate, said post being arranged that during the forward movement along the said raised portion 24 the sound-reproducer and its stylus will be in operative contact with a record, but when the said post enters said depression 29 said post raising the said sound-reproducer and its stylus from the surface of the record, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

10. A returning device for phonographs, and other similar apparatus, comprising, in combination, with the main framework and a forwardly-moving oscillating frame carrying a sound-reproducer and its stylus, a trackplate consisting, essentially, of a raised portion 24 provided with a depression 29, an offset at one end of said portion 24 and an incline 27 at the other end thereof, end portions connected respectively with said offset and said incline, means in engagement with said end portions for securing said trackplate in position, and a yielding post connected with said oscillating frame, said post having its lower end in movable engagement with the incline and the raised portion of the track-plate, said post being arranged that during the forward movement along the said raised portion 24 the sound-reproducer and its stylus will be in operative contact with a record, but when the said post enters said depression 29 said post raising the said soundreproducer and its stylus from the surface of the record, and means for returning the said sound-reproducer and its stylus and said yielding post to their normal initial positions, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

11. A returning device for phonographs and other similar apparatus comprising, in combination, with the main framework and a forwardly-moving oscillating frame carrying a soundsreproducer and its stylus, atrack-plate consisting, essentially, of a raised portion 24 provided with a depression 29, an offset at one ower end in movable engagement with the end of said portion 24 and an incline 27 at the other end thereof, end portions connected respectively with said offset and said incline, means in engagement with said end portions for securing said track-plate in position, and a yielding post comprising a pair of hinged arms, one of said arms being secured to said oscillating frame, a roller attached to the lower end of said other arm, said roller being arranged in rolling engagement with the incline and the raised portion of the track plate, said arms being arranged that during theforward movement of the parts the soundreproducer and its stylus will be in operative contact with a record, but when said roller enters said depression 29 said arms raising the said sound-reproducer and itsstylus from the surface of the record, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

' 12. Areturningdevicefor phonographsand other similar apparatus comprising, in com bination, with the main framework and aforwardly-moving oscillating frame carrying a sound-reproducer and its stylus, atrack-plate consisting, essentially, of a raised portion 24 provided witha depression 29, an offset at one end thereof, end portions connected respectively with said offset and said incline, means in engagement with said end portions for securing said track-plate in position, and a yielding post comprising a pair of hinged arms, one of said arms being secured to said oscillating frame, a roller attached to the lower end of said other arm, said roller being arranged in rolling engagement with the incline and the raised portion of the trackplate, said arms being arranged that during theforward movement of the parts the soundreproducer and its stylus will be in operative contact with a record, but when said roller enters said depression 29 said arms raising the said sound-reproducer and its stylus from the surface of the record, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

13. A returning device for phonographs and other similar apparatus comprising, in combination, with the main framework andaforwardly-moving oscillating frame carrying a sound-reproducer and its stylus, atrack-plate consisting, essentially, of a raised portion 24 provided witha depression 29, an offset at one end of said portion 24 and an incline 27 at the other end thereof, end portions connected respectively with said offset and said incline, means in engagement with said end portions for securing said track-plate in position, and a yielding post comprising a pair of hinged arms, one of said arms being secured to said oscillating frame, a roller attached to the lower end of said other arm, said roller being arranged in rolling engagement with the incline and the raised portion of the trackplate, a leaf-spring secured at one end to the lower one of said arms, said spring having its opposite end in engagement with the upper one of said arms, said arms being ar ranged that during the forward movement of the parts the sound-reproducer and its stylus will be in operative contact witha record, but when said roller enters said depression 29 said arms raising the said sound-reproducer and its stylus from the surface of the record, substantially as for the purposes set forth.

14:. Areturning device for phonographs and other similar apparatus comprising, in combination, with the main framework and a forwardly-moving oscillating frame carrying a sound-reproducer and its-stylus, a track-plate consisting, essentially, of a raised portion 2 L provided with a depression 29, an offset at one end of said portion 24 and an incline 27 at the other end thereof,.end portions connected re spectively with said offset and said incline, means in engagement with said end portions for securing said track-plate in position, and a yielding post comprising a pair of hinged arms, one of said arms being secured to said oscillating frame, a roller attached to the lower end of said other arm, said roller beingv arranged in rolling engagement with the incline and the raised portion of the track-plate, a leaf-spring securedat one end to the lower one of said arms, said spring having its opposite end in engagement with the upper one of said arms,said arms being arranged that during the forward movement of the parts the soundreproducer and its stylus will be in operative contact with a. record, but when said roller enters said depression 29 said arms raising the said sound-reproducer and its stylus from the surface of the record, and means for returning the said sound-reproducer and its stylus and said yielding post to their normal initial positions, substantially as and forthe purposes set forth.

15. In a phonograph or similar apparatus, the combination, with a revolving shaft provided with a record-receiving means, of a back rod or guide 16, an oscillating frame slidably arranged on said rod, a sound-reproducer and stylus on said oscillating frame, means for raising said frame and said soundreproducer' and stylus above the surface of the record, and a spring encircling said rod' or guide for returning said frame and its parts to their normal initial positions, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

16. In a phonograph or similar apparatus, the combination, with a revolving shaft provided with a record-receiving means, of a back rod or guide 16, an oscillating frame slidably-arranged on said rod, a sound-reprodueer and stylus on said oscillating frame, means for raising said frame and said soundreproducer and stylus above thesurface of the record, consisting of a pairof hinged and spring-controlled arms, one of which is attached to said oscillatingframe, and a spring encircling said rod or guide-for returning said frame and its parts to their normal initial positions, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

17. In a phonograph or similar apparatus, the combination, with a revolving shaft provided with a record-receiving means, of a back rod or guide 16, an-oscillating frame slidably arranged on said rod, a sound-reproducer and stylus on said oscillating frame, .means for raising said frame and said soundreproducer and stylus above the surface of the record, consistingof a pair of hinged and spring-controlled arms, one of said arms being attached to saidoscillating frame, and a roller connected with the other of said arms, a track-plate upon the framework of the phonograph, said track-plate being provided with a raised portion upon which said roller rides, and a spring encircling said rod or guide for returning said oscillating frame and its parts to their normal 1n1t1al posltions, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my handthis 29th day of December, 1904:.

SOLOMON FARE.

Witnesses:

FREDK. C. FRAENTZEL, IVIARCUS L. MENDELSSOHN. 

